A new report has been posted that was authored by the non-partisan Joint Committee on Taxation which confirms that noncompliance with the Pelosi Healthcare bill could land people in jail. Accordingly, Americans who do not maintain the undefined “acceptable” level of health insurance would be subject a tax mandate of 2.5% of income, are subject to numerous civil and criminal penalties which includes monetary fines up to $250,000 and a 5 year prison term. This requirement to maintain acceptable insurance may be a challenge for some; the lowest cost plan being advanced by Pelosi would cost a mere $15,000 per family by 2016 as estimated by the Congressional Budget Office.

Of course everyone is able to pay for the low-cost plan of Pelosi since all likely have that kind of money stuffed in a mattress. Hopefully, through many amendments, Congress will figure out what “acceptable” health insurance is and will offer it at a cost less than $15,000 in 2016 should they pass the bill.

Like we said earlier, we were going to have a follow-up article once the all the votes came in. The major question is, are these election results a report card on President Obama and how he’s doing, or was this just a reflection of local issues. BWC has looked at the numbers, how people voted, and news network reports. After gathering the data it appears that Independent voters sided with the Republicans in New Jersey in a clear message to the Democratic party and Obama. Afterall, Obama had campaigned in New Jersey for Deeds 5 or 6 times stressing how important it was to keep the Democrats in power in that state.

In Virginia, last year Obama carried this state by 6 points. This year was a different story where there was a clear 25 point swing in favor of the Republican, Robert McDonald. Reportedly, the people of Virginia where more concerned about jobs and the economy over anything else – Obama nor the proposed Healthcare were factors. However, the GOP took all top seats in Virginia which hasn’t happened in 15+ years. Robert McDonald won with 58% of the vote over Chris Deeds (D) who managed only 41% of the vote.

Next, let’s look at the New Jersey race. Many were pulling for the incumbent, Jon Corzine (D) to pull it out. There were reports of this race being very dirty, in the sense there was some ‘fraud’ though these reports are unconfirmed. Chris Christie (R) held a steady lead throughout the vote count and ending up winning 48% to 44% at last check. This was the real battle ground, according to both Republican and Democratic strategists. Whoever one this race would send a message to the White House on how they are doing; the message wasn’t very good to the White House since the Republican prevailed. Obama carried this state by more than 15 points during last year’s election; it was a 19 points swing back to this elected Republican Governor. Independent voter turn out played a key role in Christie winning.

The other hot race was David Hoffman (C) and Bill Owens (D). Hoffman lost, as Bill Owens took it 49% to 46%. Hoffman was a “dark horse” and many speculated that he would win but in the end Owens came out with the victory. Owens had been campaigning a lot longer and was a lot better known before Hoffman entered the race. Another factor was that the selected Republican candidate quit on Saturday and then in a stunning move threw all her support behind the Democrat Owens instead of the Conservative Hoffman. This was disappointing to the GOP.

There were a few other major races, as New York re-elected their mayor Bloomberg (I), and in California a congressional seat was taken, again, by the Democrats.

The GOP still looks at the bright spots, heading into 2010. Was this a precursor of things to come in 2010? We think it is. You disagree? Post a comment.

This fight is going on in Britain where the father of a one-year-old is literally fighting for the life of his son. The baby, “RB”, has a genetic condition called myasthenic syndrome which causes a disconnect between the nerves and the muscles; this affects the baby’s limbs and breathing. The baby has been in the hospital since birth and has been on a ventilator. Unfortunately, the mother and father are separated and they are not united in the fight to keep their son alive. The mother sides with the hospital who want to remove the life support from the baby.

According to the father, the child’s mental capacity isn’t diminished. The baby can see, hear, feel, recognize his parents and play with toys. The father believes that his son has life quality despite the fact that the hospital says that he doesn’t. If the court should rule with the hospital and the mother, it will be the first time that the court has gone against the wishes of a parent in deciding life or death.

What an extremely difficult situation. Who would you side with father or mother and hospital? Are outside forces influencing the wishes of the hospital such as the socialized medicine regimen enjoyed by Britain vs. the cost of keeping this baby on a ventilator? We would like your comments.

Thanks to AOL for bringing us this important story. AOL is running a poll on the topic which might be of interest to you.

After months and months have planning, finalizing, and putting a Health Care Reform bill together the Democrats finally release their Health Care Bill early Thursday. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said in her speech “This is what the American people want”, but is THIS what American people really want? Many questions have popped up and already not so many ‘good’ things are coming out in this Bill according to Republicans who are planning to make their own version of the bill and propose it on the House floor.

What good things are in this Bill …

This covers most, if not all, Americans. Most people think people should be covered (though they pretty much already are) and this is one of the things that the Democrats wanted. Though, it has been watered down a bit due to the uproar in July-August, which has caused some Liberals to dislike the Bill, according to some news networks. This bill requires you by 2013 to sign onto an employer plan, a government plan, or get your own insurance, if you don’t there will be penalties.

Now as you look, other government run plans (Canada, United Kingdom) already have a Public option or something similar to what the Democrats proposed but the opponents say it won’t work. Looking back on how Canada and the United Kingdom’s Government Run Health Care has worked out – it hasn’t gone well. There are long waits for services that we currently have access to rather quickly. In those plans it sometimes takes nearly a year to get a hip replacement and some time to get cancer treatment. We’ve seen data showing that it takes nearly 3 months in Canada to see your primary physician. Changing from a system where care is quickly distributed to one that requires a waiting period will cause a problem for the United States and we can see why people aren’t very happy with a Government Run Health Care Bill.

Things that people aren’t very happy about …

a) A 5.0%+ excise tax on people making 1,000,000 dollars if filing joint and on people who are single making 500,000 dollars a year. While many people may argue that those with that income won’t miss an additional 5.0% tax we must remember that those people, especially the ones with small businesses, use their income to create jobs and grow their businesses. Such a tax may stifle job growth and spending in a time when the looming recession still hangs over the heads of many Americans. Remember those business owners make nearly 90% of the U.S jobs, but I guess that doesn’t matter to those that believe that a 5.0% tax will have no impact.

b) Raising Taxes on Middle Class Families. It’s evident that they’re going to do it and it can’t be avoided; at least from our view. They can’t just cut Medicare & Medicaid and expect that those cuts will fund just under the 1 trillion-dollar bill. Some type of tax increase is inevitable and it is likely that such language is hidden in the 1,990 page bill. Keeping the status quo is unlikely.

c) Then there are the so-called “Death Panels”. There were reports that Death Panels somehow made it back into the bill. After a summer of boisterous senior citizens voicing their views at Town Hall Meeting any mention of “Death Panels” or rationed care is a bold step by these legislators.

d) Illegal immigrants getting insurance. Illegal Immigrants are not required to have insurance according to the Bill, but can get insurance if needed. This, by the way, is identical to the current system in place. The President promised us during his speech before congress in early September that Illegal Immigrants wouldn’t have health insurance under the bill. Remember the Joe Wilson “you lie” fiasco? Well, apparently the President either lied, misspoke, or was misinformed.

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Looking at the Bill and what reports have come out (and no, we haven’t read the Bill) this Bill won’t fit what Health Reform really needs. One important need that is not part of the Bill is medical malpractice reform, the ability to buy insurance across state lines, and lower costs – none are in the Bill. Reflecting on the Canadian and English systems, this Bill has many of the same attributes that those other failing Health Care Systems have.

Pelosi’s Bill needs 218 votes (the magic number) to get passed onto the Senate. Many conservative democrats have already voiced their concern about the Bill and, not unexpected, the Republicans have voiced their disgust of the Bill. The House will vote on Pelosi’s Bill on Friday, November 4th. We will be sure to bring you an update.

What is your opinion on this? Do you like where this reform is heading (if you live in the U.S.)? Please, please comment if you agree or disagree, we love for you to voice your concerns.

In January 2007, radio station KDND-FM in Sacramento decided to hold a contest in which the winner would receive a wii game console. The contestant were required to drink copious amounts of water and hold it. The person who could outlast all the others would win the wii. The contest was dubbed “Hold Your Wee for a Wii”. Unfortunately, a 28-year-old mother of 3 young children, Jennifer Strange, wanted to win the console and she entered the contest. While she outlasted many of the contestants she began having a headache and stomach pain before she could hold out for the wii; she won 2nd place and was awarded some local concert tickets. She was found deceased in her home hours later. The autopsy revealed that she had suffered from severe water intoxication. Yes, you can die if you drink too much water in a short amount of time. (See here for additional information on water intoxication: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1770067/).

Now some would think, how would a jury award such a large amount of money to a person who willingly entered a contest and put herself at risk? If she felt so bad, why didn’t she seek medical help? Those questions probably went through the juries mind as well. However, the radio personalities who came up with the game were warned about potential health problems that could occur with the stunt. A nurse had warned them about the risk on air. Despite the warning the “game” went forward and this young mother died.

An interesting expose ran on CBS 60 Minutes on Sunday. It showed how easy it was for people to defraud our current Government run health system called Medicare and Medicaid. One brazen person reported how he would set up an “office” with someone to answer the phone, submit the fraudulent billing, and wait for the money to roll in, courtesy of the U.S. Government. He would change locations and “companies” every 90 days or so but he claims to have net millions of dollars from the system.

Now that provokes discussion and observations – Can the Government effectively run a Healthcare System when the one that they currently run is so easily defrauded by scam artists? What is your opinion???

Shiloh Pepin, a girl with a very rare syndrome known as ‘Mermaid Syndrome’, meaning she had fused legs like a mermaid, had a pretty normal life. She went to school and had two loving parents that loved her and would always do their best to care for her. On Saturday, October 24th, 10-year-old Shiloh passed away at Maine Medical Center. Most doctors predicted that she would only live days after she was born, but she beat the odds and lived a good 10 years.

Other children who have survived ‘Mermaid Syndrome’ have had surgery to separate their legs, but Shiloh didn’t because blood vessels over passing from side to side in her circulatory system would have been severed. She had been given two kidney transplants, the last one in 2007.

Through television shows, news articles, Facebook and other Web sites, Shiloh inspired many people. R.I.P, Shiloh Pepin. If you would like to read more about what happened, click here.

Do you have any comments or opinions on this story? Did you see her death coming this early? We would love to hear your opinions/comments!

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